AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I was disappointed,” he continued. “I won’t sugarcoat it. I think any father would be. I think any parent would be.”
“Trust me,” she said, slamming the refrigerator door. “I got the memo.”
“I don’t think you did,” he said. “I don’t think you understand me at all.”
She waited, listening.
“When you went to that party, when you got arrested—” He shook his head. “You acted like I was the one who showed up and shoved you into a cop car. You wouldn’t speak to me for weeks.”
Her cheeks warmed. She remembered that.
“I was worried,” her father said. “I didn’t want you to miss out on anything you wanted to do, because of one mistake.”
“James isn’t a mistake.” The words came out of her mouth like an attack.
“I didn’t say he was.” He paused. “Going to that party to prove a point to your overbearing father was a mistake.”
She flinched. He was right. “I didn’t miss out on anything,” she said. Her voice was small.
“I know. You’ve worked very hard. I’m proud of you.”
Anything she could have said was trapped in her throat by sudden emotion. He said it so simply, like anything else. Like he didn’t realize how long she’d been waiting to hear him say those exact words.
Before she could change her mind, she crossed the kitchen and threw her arms around his neck.
If he was surprised, she didn’t feel it. He hugged her back as if he held her every day. His arms were warm and secure and familiar, despite the fact that she hadn’t hugged him in years.
“I missed this,” she said.
“Me too.” He didn’t let go.
Then she remembered the pillows and blankets. “If Mom’s not making you sleep in the basement, then what’s going on?”
James came bursting into the kitchen, full of the energy only kindergartners could find at five o’clock in the morning. He tackled her and her father at the same time, as if they did group hugs on a daily basis. “Mommy! Mommy! The big kids are here for a sleepover, and they said we could play the Lego game on Xbox later!”
“The Lego game?” She drew back to look at him. “The big kids? What—”
“I took your advice,” said her father. “You were right. I should have been more compassionate.”
She was too tired. Her brain couldn’t process this. “What?”
“Michael still doesn’t have custody. So his brothers are staying with us.”
CHAPTER 33
The day had been overcast for the funeral, but now the sun was peeking through the clouds. Michael took that as a sign. He turned his suit coat inside out, laid it on the grass, and sat.
Casper curled up at his feet.
He’d tried to give the dog back to Hunter’s mother, but Casper kept escaping from her house—and showing up on Tyler’s doorstep, scratching and whining to be let in.
After the third time, Mrs. Garrity had asked Michael if he’d like to keep him.
It hadn’t seemed as if it was up to him—and how could he refuse?
Anyway, it was nice to have company.
He felt someone coming across the field at about the same time as Casper raised his head, his ears alert. The service had been over for hours and his brothers had all gone home with the fire marshal. He wasn’t sure who else would be walking out this way.
